5 THINGS - FLAMES @ PENGUINS

FLAMES (32-25-9: 73 pts.) vs. PENGUINS (37-25-4: 78 pts.)

1. US

The Flames are back on the road after a brief one-game homestand which saw them fall 3-1 to the New York Rangers on Friday. Brett Kulak scored Calgary's lone goal, which was his second of the season and seventh point this year. Michael Frolik picked up his second point in as many games with the goal's assist and Matthew Tkachuk now has five points in his last five skates with a secondary assist. Jon Gillies, in his fourth start in the Flames' last five games, made 24 saves on the 27 shots the Rangers sent his way. Gillies now has a 2-2-0 record with a 2.57 GAA and a .911 save percentage this season ... The Flames trail the LA Kings, who hold the second Wildcard spot, by four points and Anaheim Ducks, who are third in the Pacific Division, by five points ... Winger Micheal Ferland took part in a full practice on Saturday and head coach Glen Gulutzan is expecting him to be back in the lineup on Monday evening. Ferland has missed four games with an upper body issue.

2. THEM

Pittsburgh is coming off of a 3-2 overtime win over the New York Islanders, a victory which saw Patric Hornqvist and Derick Brassard score in regulation before captain Sidney Crosby ended the game with his 22nd goal of the season at the 3:48 mark of the extra frame. The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the Penguins ... Pittsburgh is holding onto the third spot in the Metropolitan Division with a four-point lead over the New Jersey Devils, who are occupying the first Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference ... The Penguins are 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

3. US vs. THEM

The Flames picked up an overtime win over the Penguins on Nov. 2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. After a scoreless opening 40:00, Sean Monahan potted the first goal of the game at 15:53 of the third period. Patric Hornqvist replied just under three minutes later, tying the game at 18:48. Mark Giordano ended the game at 2:19 of overtime, taking a cross-ice pass from Matthew Tkachuk and beating goaltender Tristan Jerry short-side to give the Flames a 2-1 win ... Monday's match-up is the final regular season between the two clubs this year.

4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS:Sean Monahan is one game-winning goal shy of tying the franchise record for the most game-winners in a single season. Joe Mullen set the record with 12 in the 1986-87 season. Monahan leads the Flames with 29 goals through 65 games this year ... THAT: Since Jan. 1, Matthew Tkachuk has tallied 14 goals and 25 points. In his last five games, Tkachuk has one goal and five points. The 20-year-old is third in team scoring with 49 points in 64 skates. He is now three points away from hitting the 100-point mark in his career ... THE OTHER:The Flames are 17-3-0 when Johnny Gaudreau has two or more points in a game this season. The 24-year-old's last multi-point outing was on Feb. 22 when he put up a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes.

5. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames: LW Matthew Tkachuk
The winger heads into Monday's match-up on a two-game point streak, picking up a pair of assists in the Flames' last couple of tilts, and has five points in his last five outings. He has one point against the Penguins this season, setting up the game-winning goal on Nov. 2 in Calgary.
Penguins: C Evgeni Malkin
Malkin is riding a two-game point streak, posting three assists in that stretch, and has nine points in his last five games. The forward is leading the Penguins in scoring with 36 goals and 79 points through 62 games and is second in the NHL scoring race, trailing leader Nikita Kucherov by six points.